Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in rheumatoid arthritis-associated lung disease in a patient with thyroid cancer.
An 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) whole-body PET scan was performed on a thyroid cancer patient with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis who presented with pulmonary nodules. A recent diagnostic radioiodine whole-body scan was negative. However, the 18F-FDG scan demonstrated intense uptake in the chest lesions as well as in several joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Fine-needle aspiration of a pulmonary nodule revealed inflammatory reaction and absence of malignant cells, fungus and tuberculous infection. A repeat chest CT scan after 7 mo of steroid therapy showed a marked decrease in the size and number of nodules. In thyroid cancer patients, 18F-FDG uptake in the lung may not necessarily represent pulmonary metastases. This case illustrates a benign, unrelated pathology namely, rheumatoid arthritis-associated lung disease.
Bakheet
S M
SM
Department of Radiology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Powe
J
J
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18